Speed guns work at night, MMDA chairman clarifies
METROPOLITAN Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Francis N. Tolentino clarified that its speed guns used to monitor overspeeding vehicles along Commonwealth Avenue could be used to monitor and apprehend overspeeding vehicles even at night.
This clarification was made in the wake of an erroneous statement uttered by MMDA Deputy Chairman Alex Cabanilla during a House committee hearing on Wednesday (May 25). Cabanilla reportedly said the speed guns could not work at night because photos captured during the evening were blurry from lack of lighting.
"Our speed guns are used on a 24/7 basis. The LIDAR guns could not capture photo and video at night, but this is not to say that they are totally useless. Both our LIDAR and radar guns can still be used to detect overspeeding at night. Upon detection, our enforcers immediately apprehend the vehicle under the "contact" apprehension style that we have been implementing as of late," clarified the MMDA Head.
"Our five speed guns are being used on a 24/7 basis. During the day, we can record photos and videos of errant vehicles. During the night, we can detect overspeeding vehicles and immediately apprehend them. Either way, we are implementing the "contact" policy so that these speeders could immediately be imposed appropriate fines and penalties," he added.
Tolentino further clarified other erroneous reports emanating from the same House Committee hearing that with only five speed guns, the MMDA could apprehend only five overspeeding vehicles along Commonwealth Avenue at a time.
"This is plain and simply wrong," he stressed. "The LIDAR can shoot, measure and capture as many vehicles as the operator can target, with no wait time. It would take about six seconds per vehicle. So in 1 minute, the operator can capture 10 vehicles, 600 in an hour, if all vehicles within the operator's sights are overspeeding. All those vehicles can apprehend either via no contact or via contact."
The MMDA Chairman explained that under contact apprehension, MMDA speed gun operators work with a partner who radios the plate number of overspeeders to the MMDA enforcers who immediately apprehend the vehicle.
Tolentino also clarified that each speed gun costs Php450,000.00, not Php 200,000.00 as reportedly stated by Cabanilla.
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